Track system wall assembly for houses or the like

ABSTRACT

A track system wall assembly for a house, comprises a base track having a base and wall portions defining interior and exterior channels spaced from each other. A plurality of bottom openings are formed in the base intermediate to the channels. A plurality of pipe stakes insertable into soil and into the bottom openings are threaded at an upper end extending from above and below the openings. A lower holding washer is disposed on the upper end of the pipe stakes and supports thereon the base track, and an upper holding washer is disposed on the upper end of the pipe stakes and abuts wall portions of the base track. An exterior panel and an interior house panel are complementarily disposed in the exterior and interior channels, respectively, spaced apart from each other. A cap track forms outer and inner channels, in which the upper portions of the panels are disposed. Spacers maintain uniform spacing of the panels from each other, and vertical corner posts insertable into the soil complementarily engage the lateral ends of the panels.

United States Patent 1 Ferguson [451 Sept. 10, 1974 [76] Inventor: Bernard J. Ferguson, 60-10 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, NY. 11377 [22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,424

Primary Examinerl-lenry C. Sutherland [5 7] ABSTRACT A track system wall assembly for a house, comprises a base track having a base and wall portions defining interior and exterior channels spaced from each other. A plurality of bottom openings are formed in the base intermediate to the channels. A plurality of pipe stakes insertable into soil and into the bottom openings are threaded at an upper end extending from above and below the openings. A lower holding washer is disposed on the upper end of the pipe stakes and supports thereon the base track, and an upper holding washer is disposed on. the upper end of the pipe stakes and abuts wall portions of the base track. An exterior panel and an interior house panel are complementarily disposed in the exterior and interior channels, respectively, spaced apart from each other. A cap track forms outer and inner channels, in which the upper portions of the panels are disposed. Spacers maintain uniform spacing of the panels from each other, and vertical corner posts insertable into the soil complementarily engage the lateral ends of the panels.

7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENIED SEP 1 men SHEET 10F 4 FIG. I.

PAHNIEDSEP I men sumzom PAIENTEUSEPIOIW 3.834.094

sum ans 4 TRACK SYSTEM WALL ASSEMBLY FOR HOUSES OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to a track system assembly for a house construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall support structure for housing, which substantially reduces expenses involved in constructing houses, and particularly saves labor expenses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simplified track system which itself can be used as the foundation for the walls of a house.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a track system wall assembly for a house, comprising a base track having a base and wall portions defining an interior and an exterior channel spaced from each other, a plurality of bottom openings formed in the base intermediate to the channels, a plurality of pipe stakes insertable into soil and into the bottom openings and being threaded at an upper end extending from above and below the openings, a lower holding washer disposed on the upper end of the pipe stakes supporting thereon the base track, and an upper holding washer disposed on the upper end of the pipe stakes and abutting wall portions of the base track. An exterior house panel and an interior house panel are disposed in the exterior and the interior channels, respectively, spaced apart from each other, and defining tongue and grooved portions, the wall portions defining bevelled extremeties complementarily engaging the tongue and grooved portions of the panels. A cap track forms exterior and interior channels, in which the upper portions of the panels are disposed. Spacers are disposed between the back track and the cap track, for maintaining uniform spacing of the panels from each other, and insulating means are disposed between the panels. Vertical corner posts adapted to be inserted into the soil and having two longitudinal spaced grooves, are provided, the panels being formed with lateral ends complementary to the grooves of the corner posts and are disposed therein.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide an assembly in accordance with the abovementioned objectives wherein the spacer means comprises nail portions on two ends and spaced shields abutting the panels and disposed from the end of the nail portions by a distance less than the thickness of each of the panels.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an assembly in accordance with the above mentioned objective, wherein at least two adjacent of the cap tracks form a joint, and a joining bar is pro vided having integrally formed threaded bolts extending from the bottom thereof, and shaped complementary to the joint formation and connecting the adjacent cap tracks with the bolts extending through holes in adjacent of the cap tracks, respectively, and nuts on the bolts abutting the cap tracks, for securing the adjacent cap tracks and the joining bar.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide an assembly in accordance with the abovementioned objectives, wherein the wall portions of the tracks constitute two lateral vertical walls which are bevelled at their upper extremities outwardly and two spaced central vertical walls defining a central channel and of a height lower than that of the lateral vertical walls. The bottom openings are located at the central channel and are of a diameter slightly larger than the width of the central channel, the central vertical walls having facing arcuate cut-out portions, respectively, formed as a continuation of the bottom opening and through which the pipe stakes extend, and, the upper holding washer being disposed against a top of the central vertical walls for the purpose of holding the track well during pourng of concrete.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an assembly in accordance with the abovementioned objectives wherein a concrete slab is formed under, and contiguous to, the base track, and on the soil.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a track system, which when installed upon a floor surface, will receive two sheets of panelling in such a manner as to form a wall without the need for additional framing materials, and which track has three channels, the outer two channels for receiving the panels, and the middle channel has holes spaced apart, one to receive nails for attaching the track to wood surfaces, and another hole for receiving a pipe stake for attaching a track to a dirt surface. Alternatively, the latter holes can be used for providing access to water and electrical lines. The middle channel is also designed to receive the stake. The interior cavity between the walls is to be filled with a foam. Corner posts of solid steel, or also aluminum or equivalent material are grooved to receive the panels of two walls which meet at the corners. The walls are held apart by a two way nail which has shields to prevent excess penetration of the panels by the nail ends. The pipe stake is threadedto receive holding washers adjustable to raise or lower the track. Finally, joining bars are used to unite the cap truck of joints.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an installed basetrack and cap track assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the base-track of FIG. 1, partially broken away;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a corner post showing the exterior and interior panels inserted therein;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a comer post partially broken away;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a pipe stake;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a separator stiffener;

FIGS. 7 10 illustrate schematically the steps of completing an installation in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a joining bar to unite cap tracks forming joints;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the joining bar of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a joining bar for joining aligned cap tracks; and

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the joining bar of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with the present invention, the hardware base-track of steel or equivalent material 1 and a cap track 1' are designed so that when the base-track is installed upon a ground surface it will receive two sheets of panelling, sheet rock, plywood or other building materials, namely an exterior panel or sheet 3a of the house and an interior house panel or sheet 3b, in such a manner as to form a wall without the need for additional framing materials, in that the track will hold the panels from the bottom, and the cap track 1 being disposed on top of the sheets 3a and 3b, and formed similarly to that of the base track.

The panels 3a, 3b themselves each have an edge 4 which will be of tongue and groove type, complementary to bevel portions 5 of the tracks. The panels are installed from a corner post (FIG. 3) which is formed with preferably V shaped grooves 16 and 17 to provide a support for the upright V shaped panel edges 30 and 3d, respectively. The compressive strength will be given to the finished wall by filling the interior cavity between the panels with an insulation, e.g. foam 9, which will further provide acoustical and thermal functrons.

Nail holes 21 are provided, preferably every 6 inches, a part in the base 1a of the track which will permit base tracks to be nailed on wood surfaces if desired.

Also, preferably 4 inch holes 22 are provided, e.g., preferably every 6 inches apart and beginning three inches from either end, and formed centrally in the base Ia of the base track and partially arcuately through the interior projections 6d and 6e. These holes may be used to provide access for water and electrical lines which will eliminate the need for the trades to drill through studding. These holes also serve to receive a pipe stake ll therethrough (FIGS. 1 and S), in order to affix the track to a dirt surface 2 and raise or lower same to, e.g., approximately 4 inches above the soil, to provide for a concrete slab 23 construction. TI-Ie exterior and interior upright lateral projections of steel 6a and 6b, respectively, of the base track 1 form moulding for exterior and interior finishes, which show after the panels are installed. The two interior parallel vertical projections 6d and 6e are of lower height than that of the interior and exterior projections 6a and 6b form interior upright pieces abutting the inside surfaces 3c and 3d, respectively, of the panels from the inside.

The foam 9 also is filled between the inside projections 6d and 6e in the central channel la formed therebetween. The base track is preferably made of steel or equivalent material.

The inside and outside lateral projections 6d and 6a, and 6e and 6b, respectively, together with the base 1a form exterior and interior U-shaped channels or tracks, respectively, in which the bottoms of the panels 3e and 3f, respectively, complementarily are disposed.

The pipe stake 11 is made preferably of standard /& inch galvanized steam pipe threaded from the top, e.g. a distance of 6 inches. The driving tip 12 is optional and serves only to drive the pipe approximately two feet into the soil. The tip may be made of any suitable material.

A driving cap 13 is removably provided to protect the threads, so that the top washer 1412 can be placed on top of the base track 1 after the pipe stake 11 has been driven. The driving cap 13 is placed on the top of the pipe stake initially, and after driving the latter into the ground 2, the driving cap 13 is removed. The pipe stake is inserted in the bottom of the track in the bottom openings 22 after the pipe stake has been driven into the ground. At this time, a bottom washer 14a be first affixed to its approximated desired location on the threads of the pipe stake, thereby holding the base track a desired distance above the ground 2. After placing the track on top of the bottom washer 14 of the pipe stake 11, the top washer 14b is placed firmly holding the base track 1 the desired distance above the ground 2, e.g. 4 inches. Plywood 24 is set on the sides of the base track 1 to hold poured concrete, which sets to form the concrete slab 23.

Referring now again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, corner posts 15 of solid steel or equivalent material are designed to be located in the four corners of a building. The base tracks and cap tracks 1' are to abut the corner posts. The four grooved recesses 16 and 17, respectively, receive the exterior and interior panels 3a and 3b of the two walls which meet at the corners. The top of the steel corner post 15 contains a hole 18 which is threaded, so that a bolt may be inserted, for connecting members to the post. The post is intended to be hammered eg 2 feet into the soil 2, and then levelled so that it is fromfh ebase tracks. The post 15 will be positioned 3 feet in reinforced concrete and shall be, e.g., 8 feet above the base track for an eight foot panel. It will be 10 feet above the base track for a l0 foot panel.

Two way nailseparator and stiffeners 10 are provided to penetrate the two panels 3a and 3b on their facing interior surfaces 30 and 3d. The nail shields 7 will maintain the exact distance between the two panels 3a and 3b and will prevent penetration in excess of the thickness of the panels. Both nail point portions 8 have serrations 16, in order to provide a firmer gripping when the nails 7 are placed into the panels. The method of installation is by nailing one side utilizing a small rigid pipe (not shown), the inside diameter being, e.g., approximately inch, (slightly larger than the diameter of the nail shaft) and then pressing the other nail end 8 onto the other panel.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 7-10, in accordance with the present invention, the installation of the track frame for a construction proceeds as follows:

Corner holes and a center hole 15b are dug, e.g. 3 feet deep. The corner posts and center post 15 are then driven 2 feet further into the dirt in the holes and then levelled. The base tracks 1 are then laid out in accordance with the blue print, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, although it is to be recognized that the layout of FIG. 7 does not represent any actual house, but is merely provided for illustration, and indicates several rooms, indicating doorways 19 (between spaced track portions) and forming rooms, such as a living room 25 or a kitchen 26 and a laundry 27, and the like. The pipe stakes 11 are then driven in as described heretofore and then positioned into the holes 22 in the base track, which is then levelled, the washers 14a and 1412 being tightened. The plywood 24 (FIG. 1), is then set on the sides of the base track to hold the subsequently poured concrete. The center post is two feet longer than the corner posts. The corner posts are driven two feet into the soil below the three foot hole, and for example 8 feet to remain above the ground surface. In accordance with the present invention such initial procedures may only take two men and only 2 days to perform.

Referring now to FIG. 8, for the next step in assembling the installation, the plumber provides the risers to be passed through the base tracks, through the holes 22 therein, namely pipes and drains. The electrician then lies conduit risers again through holes 22 in the base track. The concrete slab gets poured after reinforcing rods are installed. The plywood and back fill are removed. (The pipes, drains and risers are not shown for ease of illustration). An electric service panel 28 may be provided at the center post.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particulary to FIG. 9, next, the panels 3a and 3b are dropped into the base tracks 1 starting from the corner posts through the grooves 16 and 17 thereof (the window and door panels are pre-fabricated). After the electrician and plumber finish their work, the space between the panels 3a and 3b are foamed, and then the cap tracks 1 are placed and welded at the points 29.

FIG. 10 represents the last step, whereupon the roof 36 is disposed at the top overhanging the corner posts 15, and mid span supports 37 may be provided.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 11 and 12, joining bars are provided, so that after the cap track 1 is installed on the panels 3a and 3b, joining bar 30 joins at least two cap tracks which meet in joints in T shape perpendicular orientation with respect to each other. The joining bar 30 has bolts 31 which are integral with the bar and extend from the bottom thereof, as clearly indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12, and the bolts are made in one casting, and have threads thereon, which threads are only half-way around. The bolts 31 enter into holes 22', similar to hole 22 of the base track 1, which holes 22' are formed in the center portion thereof. After the joining bar 30 is positioned on the cap track with the bolts entering the holes 22 of the cap track 1', nuts 32 then are tightened on the threaded bolt portions 31 securing the members.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another joining bar 33 of linear construction, having two integrally cast bolts 34 extending from the bottom thereof and being threaded, similar to that of the joining bar 30. The joining bar 33 is designed to join track cap pieces 1 which are aligned continuing in the same direction as indicated in FIG. 14, the bolts 34 entering through the openings 22 in the cap tracks 1, after which the nuts 35 are tightened thereon to secure the members. Other shapes of joining bars than these disclosed in FIGS. 11-14 may be used for different track part joints, for example, perpendicular meeting tracks in the form of an L may be formed having integral bolts at the end portions of the L, or other shapes, although not limited thereto.

The present invention is not limited to the following examples of dimensions of the members of the present invention, but depend on various factors, e.g. desired panel thickness, being mentioned as only one factor:

(inches being understood:)

TRACK-BASE (e.g. for .74 thick panels) PIPE STAKE Stud (galvanized steel pipe) .5 outer diameter -Continued TRACK-BASE (e.g. for .74 thick panels) With the assembly in accordance with the present invention, there has now been disclosed for the first time a simplified, unique highly satisfactory structure for the basic and frame structure of a house, which provides substantial savings in costs, and particularly reduces labor time and expenses.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be recognized that these embodiments are given, by example only, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A track system wall assembly for a house, comprisa base track having a base and wall portions defining an interior and an exterior channel spaced from each other,

a plurality of threaded, through openings formed in said base intermediate to said channels,

a plurality of pipe stakes inserted into soil and into said bottom openings and being threaded at an upper end extending above and below said openings,

a lower holding washer disposed on said upper end of said pipe stakes supporting thereon said base track, and an upper holding washer disposed on said upper end of said pipe stakes and abutting wall portions of said base track,

a series of exterior house panels and interior house panels disposed in said exterior and interior channels, respectively in spaced apart relation to each other, and the lower ends thereof defining tongue portions,

said wall portions defining bevelled extremities complementarily engaging said tongue portions of said panels,

a cap track having exterior and interior channels in which the upper portions of said panels are disposed,

spacer means disposed between said series of panels and intermediate said base track and said cap track, for maintaining uniform spacing of said panels from each other,

insulating means disposed between said panels,

vertical corner posts inserted into the soil and having longitudinal spaced vertical grooves,

said series of panels being formed with lateral terminal ends complementary to said grooves of said corner posts and disposed therein.

. 2. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spacer means comprises nail portions on two ends and spaced shield abutting said panels and spaced from the ends of said nail portions by a distance less than the thickness of each of said panels.

said joining bar.

4. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wall portions of said tracks constitute two lateral vertical walls which are bevelled at their upper extremities outwardly and two spaced central vertical walls defining a central channel and of a height lower than that of said lateral vertical walls,

said bottom openings located at said central channel and of a diameter slightly larger than the width of said central channel, said central vertical walls having facing arcuate cut-out portions, respectively, formed as a continuation of said bottom opening and through which said pipe stakes extend, and,

said upper holding washer is disposed against a top of said central vertical walls.

5. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a concrete slab formed under and contiguous to said base track and on said soil.

6. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insulation means comprises a foam insulation.

7. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base track has a plurality of small holes adapted to nail said base track to a floor, selectively. 

1. A track system wall assembly for a house, comprising a base track having a base and wall portions defining an interior and an exterior channel spaced from each other, a plurality of threaded, through openings formed in said base intermediate to said channels, a plurality of pipe stakes inserted into soil and into said bottom openings and being threaded at an upper end extending above and below said openings, a lower holding washer disposed on said upper end of said pipe stakes supporting thereon said base track, and an upper holding washer disposed on said upper end of said pipe stakes and abutting wall portions of said base track, a series of exterior house panels and interior house panels disposed in said exterior and interior channels, respectively in spaced apart relation to each other, and the lower ends thereof defining tongue portions, said wall portions defining bevelled extremities complementarily engaging said tongue portions of said panels, a cap track having exterior and interior channels in which the upper portions of said panels are disposed, spacer means disposed between said series of panels and intermediate said base track and said cap track, for maintaining uniform spacing of said panels from each other, insulating means disposed between said panels, vertical corner posts inserted into the soil and having longitudinal spaced vertical grooves, said series of panels being formed with lateral terminal ends complementary to said grooves of said corner posts and disposed therein.
 2. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spacer means comprises nail portions on two ends and spaced shield abutting said panels and spaced from the ends of said nail portions by a distance less than the thickness of each of said panels.
 3. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least two adjacent sections of said cap tracks forming a joint, a joining bar having integrally formed threaded bolts extending from the bottom thereof, said cap track sections having holes therethrough, said joining bar connecting said adjacent cap track sections with said bolts extending through said holes in adjacent of said sections, respectively, nuts positioned on said bolts and abutting said sections, thereby securing said adjacent sections and said joining bar.
 4. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wall portions of said tracks constitute two lateral vertical walls which are bevelled at their upper extremities outwardly and two spaced central vertical walls defining a central channel and of a height lower than that of said lateral vertical walls, said bottom openings located at said central channel and of a diameter slightly larger than the width of said central channel, said central vertical walls having facing arcuate cut-out portions, respectively, formed as a continuation of said bottom opening and through which said pipe stakes extend, and, said upper holding washer is disposed against a top of said central vertical walls.
 5. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a concrete slab formed under and contiguous to said base track and on said soil.
 6. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insulation means comprises a foam insulation.
 7. The assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base track has a plurality of small holes adapted to nail said base track to a floor, selectively. 